HP0583
LD 795
Session - 129th Maine Legislature
H "B", Filing Number H-675, Sponsored by Hickman
LR 2014
Item 9
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

Amend the resolution in that part designated "Constitution, Art. I, ยง25" by striking out all of Section 25 and inserting the following:

โ€˜Section 25. Right to food. All individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to food, including the right to save and exchange seeds and the right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being, as long as an individual does not commit trespassing, theft, poaching or other abuses of private property rights, public lands or natural resources in the harvesting, production or acquisition of food.

Amend the resolution by striking out the question (page 1, lines 21 to 25 in L.D.) and inserting the following:

โ€˜

"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to declare that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being?"

โ€™

SUMMARY

This amendment amends the bill by:

1. Removing the words "acquire," "process," "prepare" and "preserve" from the enumeration of the elements of an individual's right to food;

2. Removing language limiting the methods of acquisition of food to hunting, gathering, foraging, farming, fishing and gardening and obtaining seeds by barter, trade or purchase;

3. Removing language establishing a fundamental right to be free from hunger, malnutrition, starvation and the endangerment of life due to scarcity of or lack of access to food; and

4. Specifying that the right to food does not allow an individual to commit trespassing, theft, poaching or other abuses of private property rights, public lands or natural resources in the harvesting, production or acquisition of food; and

5. Changing the question to reflect the changes made by this amendment.


Top of Page